The Irish standard., 1887-09-03
MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1887.

sent band of Redemptorist Fathers t.
northern Ohio to take charge of mis-
sions in Huron, Erie and Seneca coun-
ties, with residence at Peru, near Nor
walk. They were succeeded in 1874 b,
the Sanguinist fathers, who had beer
invited by him in the year previous t.
come and labor in the Ohio mission
Finding his diocesan work far beyond
his strength, he petitioned the Holy
See for division of his vast spiritua
territory. In compliance with his wish
the division was made in 1847, and all
that part of Ohio, north of 40 degrees
and Al minutes erected into a sepe1ate
diocese, with the episcopal see at Cleve'
land and the Right Rev. Amadeus
Rappe as it's first bishop. When Bish-
op Rappe took possession of his see he
found AZ churches, IA secular priests
and Sanguinists within his jurisdic-
tion, an increase of 40 churches and 10
priests since 1888, when Bishop Purcell
was appointed to the see of Cincinnati.
Although thus relieved of nearly one
third of his former jurisdiction, Bishop
Purcell's zeal and labor did not dimin-
ish; on the contrary they grew and
spread. Catholicity, under his dire c.
tion, made wonderful strides in central
and southern Ohio. With astonishing g
rapidity, churches multiplied, congre- :
cations sprung into existence, religious
charitable and educational institutions
were established, all demanding and
receiving his watchful care and pater-
nal guidance. In 1853 Bishop Purcell
was relieved of the Jurisdiction of east
ern Kentucky, In the erection of the
diocese of Covington. In 1868 he again
asked for further relief from constantly
increasing work. The result was the
erection of the diocese of Columbus,
comprising the southeastern part Of
Ohio. The first bishop was the Right
Rev. s. H. Rosecrans, who, as coadju-
tor since 1862, had lightened his labors.
In 1850 Bishop Purcell was made arch
bishop, with the bishops of Louisville.
Vincennes, Detroit and Cleveland as
his sufflagans. Under his directions
st. Mary's Seminary of the West was
opened near Cincinnati in 1852. Inde-
fatigably he labored for the spread of
religion, and everywhere throughout
his diocese evidence of his zeal and the
steady growth of the church could be
seen. In 1859 he made the last of his
many visits to Rome, this time to at
tend the ecumenical council of the
Vatican which opened in December of
that year. He took prominent part
in it's debates, notably those connected
with the definition of the infallibility of
the Pore. He belonged to the Inoppor-
tunists, but after the council defined
papal infallibility to be of faith he
yielded assent. Shortly after his ad-
vent to Cincinnati in 1888, the rapid
growth of Catholicity in that city, as in
fact throughout the country, aroused
bigotry and fanatical alarm. He was
challenged by Protestant preacher,
named Alexander Campbell, to a public
debate on Catholic doctrine. This was
in 1887. For many days the disputants
held sway over large and interested
audiences. The brilliant young bishop
vanquished his opponent and gained
for himself the name of a profound
theologian, accurate historian and keen
debater. In May, 1880, Archbishop
Purcell retired to Brown county, near
the Ursuline Convent, where he lin
gered in illness. brought on in the early
part Of 1881 by paralytic stroke, till
his death, July 4, 1883. The foregoing
outline sketch is from the Cleveland
Universe.